Ex-WBU champ Alexander hails Hayes

The Chichester outfit travelled with 12-year-old Freddie Hayes, who was having his second bout in two weeks.

Weighing in at 39kg he was up against 12-year-old Ben Sanderson (38kg), boxing for host club Rye.

Coach Jon Mills said: “We asked Freddie to try to find his range as quickly as he could using his jab, then start laying off two and three-punch combinations as he needed the first round, especially with it being Ben’s own home show.

“Freddie did just that, catching Ben as he lunged in with his head down, trying to close the gap Freddie had created to box at long range. The first round was clearly Freddie’s.

“In the second we asked Freddie to continue to box long and as Ben came charging forward with his head down to throw the uppercut that he was wide open for. Freddie delivered accordingly to great effect, slowing Ben’s forward charges that were becoming less frequent as Freddie upped his pace.

“The second round was also in the bag for Freddie and we asked him to continue in the same way for the last round but to up his gears as young Ben would come gunning for him as he knew he was behind.”

Coach Gareth Ferguson said: “Ben did just as we expected but Freddie was waiting, moving swiftly away and catching Ben with some cracking combinations and again bringing the sweet uppercut into play, bringing Ben to a halt as he increased the tempo in the last 30 seconds, winning a very well-deserved unanimous decision on Ben’s home soil.”

St Gerards officials predict big things for Hayes, who was presented with his winning trophy by ex-WBU middleweight champion of the world Wayne Alexander, who said he was impressed with Freddie’s mature performance – especially his uppercuts.